Elderberry Wine

Cold Brew!

Sometimes I feel like a bit of an oddball for liking elderberry as much as I do, especially because the quality of elderberry can range so significantly and when it’s bad it’s really bad. I got a little nervous smelling this one as it definitely has a bit of pungent musk to it. Not quite full blown “foot smell” as some elderberry is want to do, but leaning that direction a touch…

Steeped up it’s actually surprisingly fresh and mellow, though? I mean, don’t get me wrong – I don’t think I would at all describe the OVERALL taste as mellow since it’s still got a lot of tartness and bold berry flavour from the hibiscus in the blend. It’s just much more mellow than I would have ever assumed given the dry aroma. Not funky tasting to me at all, though! Instead it’s a refreshing deep purple berry sort of flavour with a citrusy edge from the lemongrass and some apple notes. Refreshing and relatively clean finishing with an appropriate level of natural sweetness.

I do think I own elderberry teas that I enjoy more which have a bit more saturated, syrupy fruit notes to them without any funk – but I think this is nice! And pretty approachable for someone who has either never tried an elderberry forward tea or, perhaps, has been burned by an especially stanky one in the past.

I don’t really know how I feel about this one. It’s earthy and tart from the hibiscus and super herby too. Idk, for “wine” teas I prefer Merlot Dommaine Chantel by The English tea store. It actually tastes like wine cold brewed.

Gonna sip this down probably

Adagio Advent Calendar – Day 2

Hmm, so can’t say I’m excited for this one. It’s a fruit tisane with hibiscus as the first ingredient… (hissss)

Yep, this is hibiscus land. It’s not face-puckeringly sour, but it’s definitely tart. I think I can taste apple, orange, and some vague red fruitiness. I do pick up on the lemongrass as well, which is nice. There’s a sweetness that comes in at the end of the sip, not sure if that’s from the apple pieces? I definitely don’t taste elderberry.

Anyway, as expected this is not for me. But it’s not awful either!

(today’s advent teas: https://www.instagram.com/p/CITQgxTAHBz/)

This one smells a bit like wine, so that’s accurate, I suppose. I could totally buy that the flavor is elderberry rather than some vague berry mix, like most berry teas. There’s also something a little herbaceous in there. It’s pretty sour, but better with sugar. Overall, I think this makes a decent cup of tea. The elderberry flavor is fun, but I’d probably prefer if it were only going for elderberry and not wine as well.